Cushion protector

ABSTRACT

Cushion protector for bony protuberances of the human body, composed of convoluted foam having a convoluted surface adapted to fit adjacent to the body of a medical or health care patient. The convolutions are curved and substantially uniform, forming peaks and valleys which are spaced from the base such that the distance ratios from peak to valley, from peak to base and from valley to base fall within critical limits. In the form of a heel protector, a seam is provided extending along the bottom, forward of the heel and toward the toe of the wearer, terminating forward of the back of the heel and leaving an open loop of foam material in the area of and below the heel. A tie strap is provided, anchored at about the middle of the heel protector. In the form of an elbow protector, square ends having a critical construction are provided at both sides of the elbow.

United States Patent Williams 51 Sept. 26, 1972 i 1 CUSHION PROTECTOR [22] Filed: Oct. 28, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 84,788

[52] user ..12s/149,2/24, 128/153,

128/157 51 Int.Cl. ..A61b19/00 [58] Field ofSearch..l28/l49,153,157,132 R, 165, 128/166; 2/24, 61, 62, 16

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,011,494 12/1961 McGowan 128/149 X 1,846,835 2/1932 Buckler ..2/l6 1,081,366 12/1913 Collins ..128/166 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,733,872 11/1956 Germany 128/149 413,108 8/1910 France ..2/6l

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-G. F. Dunne Attorney-Paul & Paul [5 7] ABSTRACT Cushion protector for bony protuberances of the human body, composed of convoluted foam having a convoluted surface adapted to fit adjacent to the body of a medical or health care patient. The convolutions are curved and substantially uniform, forming peaks and valleys which are spaced from the base such that the distance ratios from peak to valley, from peak to base and from valley to base fall within critical limits. in the form of a heel protector, a seam is provided extending along the bottom, forward of the heel and toward the toe of the wearer, terminating forward of the back of the heel and leaving an open loop of foam material in the area of and below the heel. A tie strap is provided, anchored at about the middle of the heel protector. 1n. the form of an elbow protector, square ends having a critical construction are provided at both sides of the elbow.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDsms I972 3.693.619

INVENTOR.

H. Albert Williams Y WV W ATTORNEYS.

CUSHION PROTECTOR BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Although it has been customary in the past to provide various foam pads for various limbs of a medical or health care patient, the efforts of those working in the field have been directed primarily toward custom fitting the pad to the patient. This custom fitting tends to cut off the air supply from the affected area, causing local overheating and excessive perspiration in the heel or ankle areas. Other similar devices have been provided, which are expensive to manufacture and difficult to maintain.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a protector for an area having a bony protuberance, which protector is inexpensive to manufacture, comfortable to wear and readily disposable after use.

The foregoing and other objects of this invention will become further apparent hereinafter and in the drawings of which:

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a specific form of protector for bony protuberances, designed as a heel and ankle protector embodying features of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of an alternate embodiment according to this invention, in the form of an elbow protector.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, this figure shows a heel and ankle protector which is composed of a single piece of foam material, folded back upon itself to form sidewalls ll, 12. The sidewalls are stitched together at 13 forming a line of stitching along the bottom of the protecting device. The stitching terminates at 14 which is spaced substantially forwardly of the rear 15 of the heel portion, leaving an open loop 16 which provides a particular rigidity of construction at the heel area andconcurrently provides open space for aeration. Anchored centrally with respect to the sidewalls 11 and 12, as by stitches of thread 20, are two tie ribbons 21, 21 which are used to secure the heel and ankle protector in place.

lt will be observed that while the outer, exposed surface of the heel and ankle protector may be substantially flat in form, the inside surface is composed of a multiplicity of curved convolutions 22 having curved peaks and curved hollows or valley portions 23. These peaks and valleys are provided in a regularly occurring manner and repeat themselves throughout the inner surface of the protector. The convoluted nature of the inner surface may preferably be the same as that shown in German patent No. 1,733,871 and assures that substantial portions of the patients heel and ankle are free of direct contact with the foam, thus providing a multiplicity of air passages for ventilation. Thus, the convolutions coact with the open loop 16 formed at the heel of the device, to provide superior ventilation which is frequently an important factor from the point of view of medical and health care.

The nature of the convolutions is, for some purposes, of critical importance. It is preferred to provide sectionally sinusoidal convolutions having a distance from peak to valley of approximately two-sixteenths of an inch, from peak to base approximately twelve-sixteenths of an inch and from valley to base approximately ten-sixteenths of an inch. The distance from the valley to the base should be at least 25 percent of the distance between the peak and the base, in order to provide sufficient strength to perform the protective function of the device. On the other handfithe distance from valley to base may be as great as approximately percent of the distance from the peak to the base.

The ties should be anchored preferably at about the center of the sidewalls of the device. This allows for adjustability and good anchoring. If such anchors were placed at the corners, they would have a pronounced tendency to tear in actual use. These ties need not be inflexible ribbons but may instead be composed of an elastic loop, requiring no tying. With respect to the stitching along the bottom of the sole, an overlock stitch is preferred since it provides additional strength and rigidity, particularly in combination with the looped construction at the rear of the heel. However, other forms of stitching such as a back and forth stitch may also be used.

FIG. 2 shows an elbow protector embodying features of this invention. It is composed of a foam of approximately the same size and thickness as the heel and ankle protector shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, and the same limitations with respect to the convolutions apply. It will be noted that the two tie ribbons 30, 31 are again anchored centrally of the sidewalls of the protecting device by means of stitches 32,32. Here again, this central location is important for the reasons already expressed in connection with the heel and ankle protector. It is essential to have a width of the square ends 34 of approximately one-half to 4 inches, and that there be no points at the elbow. This is critical for the elbow unit but is not specifically important for the heel and ankle unit.

It should be kept in mind that it is possible to use heat sealing instead of stitching. Heat sealing may also be used to secure the tie ribbons in place with respect to any unit heretofore described.

Although this invention has been described with specific reference to particular forms selected for illustration in the drawings, it should be kept in mind that various changes may be made, including the substitution of equivalents, the use of certain features independently of other features, and the reversal of parts, all without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims. It should also be kept in mind that the abstract of the invention that is submitted in connection with this specification is intended only to be a brief description of the general nature of a specific form of apparatus in accordance with this invention, and is not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

The following is claimed:

1. A convoluted foam protector adapted to be secured to a portion of a patients body for health care use, comprising a pair of layers of foam material having a juncture along an edge to fonn a pair of opposed sidewalls, said layers also being fastened together along another edge, said fastening terminating at a location remote from said juncture to form a looped opening in the foam material in the neighborhood of said juncture, said looped opening admitting outside air into the area of the patients body protected by said protector, an elongated tie element secured substantially centrally at spaced locations on said sidewalls in a manner to secure the protector in place upon the patient, the inner surface of the foam being convoluted in such a manner as to provide regularly occuring rounded peaks and valleys, the distance from valley to base being in the range of about 25 to 85 percent of the distance from peak to base, whereby the convolutions provide a multiplicity of air passages between the patient and the inner surfaces of said sidewalls and coact with said looped portion to provide ventilation passages extending to the ambient air outside the body of said protec- 101'.

2. The protector defined in claim 1, wherein the protector is composed of a single piece of foam material and the juncture is a fold which is common to both said sidewalls.

3. The protector defined in claim 1, wherein the sidewalls are fastened together by stitching which extends from the ends of the sidewalls to a point spaced from said juncture.

4. The protector defined in claim 1, wherein the convolutions are sinusoidal in cross section and wherein the distance from valley to base is at least 25 percent and up to percent of the distance from peak to base.

5. The protector defined in claim 4, wherein the distance from peak to valley is approximately two-sixteenths inch, the distance from peak to base is approximately twelve-sixteenths inch and the distance from valley to base is approximately ten-sixteenths inch.

6. The protector defined in claim 3, wherein said stitching is overlock stitching.

7. The protector defined in claim 1, wherein the protector is an elbow protector and wherein the sidewalls are tapered toward their free ends, and wherein said free ends are square ends having end lengths of from about one-half to 4 inches.

8. The protector defined in claim 1, wherein the sidewalls are fastened together by heat sealing. 

1. A convoluted foam protector adapted to be secured to a portion of a patient''s body for health care use, comprising a pair of layers of foam material having a juncture along an edge to form a pair of opposed sidewalls, said layers also being fastened together along another edge, said fastening terminating at a location remote from said juncture to form a looped opening in the foam material in the neighborhood of said juncture, said looped opening admitting outside air into the area of the patient''s body protected by said protector, an elongated tie element secured substantially centrally at spaced locations on said sidewalls in a manner to secure the protector in place upon the patient, the inner surface of the foam being convoluted in such a manner as to provide regularly occuring rounded peaks and valleys, the distance from valley to base being in the range of about 25 to 85 percent of the distance from peak to base, whereby the convolutions provide a multiplicity of air passages between the patient and the inner surfaces of said sidewalls and coact with said looped portion to provide ventilation passages extending to the ambient air outside the body of said protector.
 2. The protector defined in claim 1, wherein the protector is composed of a single piece of foam material and the juncture is a fold which is common to both said sidewalls.
 3. The protector defined in claim 1, wherein the sidewalls are fastened together by stitching which extends from the ends of the sidewalls to a point spaced from said juncture.
 4. The protector defined in claim 1, wherein the convolutions are sinusoidal in cross section and wherein the distance from valley to base is at least 25 percent and up to 85 percent of the distance from peak to base.
 5. The protector defined in claim 4, wherein the distance from peak to valley is approximately two-sixteenths inch, the distance from peak to base is approximately twelve-sixteenths inch and the distance from valley to base is approximately ten-sixteenths inch.
 6. The protector defined in claim 3, wherein said stitching is overlock stitching.
 7. The protector defined in claim 1, wherein the protector is an elbow protector and wherein the sidewalls are tapered toward their free ends, and wherein said free ends are square ends having end lengths of from about one-half to 4 inches.
 8. The protector defined in claim 1, wherein the sidewalls are fastened together by heat sealing. 